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The Association Between Attachment Styles And Binge Eating Behaviours: Examination Of The Mediational Role Of Emotional Dysregulation In The Arab Region, Diala Kassab

Theses

Many factors are said to affect binge eating behaviours, one of these factors is the individual’s attachment style. Attachment styles is the early relationship that shape a child's ideas and expectations about themselves and the availability of other people. This can be mediated by the ability to effectively respond and manage emotional experiences. This thesis aimed to examine the role of emotional dysregulation on attachments styles and binge eating behaviours in the Arab region.
/="/">A sample of 326 Arab university students, predominantly Emirati and Lebanese, were recruited using convenience sampling and snowball sampling technique. Participants were asked to complete …

Examining The Parallel Mediating Effect Of Emotion Dysregulation And Eating Beliefs In The Association Between Low Self¬-Esteem And Binge Eating Behaviours, Farah Al Mohammed

Theses

Research in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) around the causes and non-pharmacological treatment options of binge eating behaviours and other eating disorders is limited. Moreover, given the documented increase in binge eating behaviours which, in turn, is associated with two additional eating disorders (i.e., binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa), there is an urgent need to understand the factors that are implicated in the causation and maintenance of binge eating behaviours in the UAE. A comprehensive understanding of these factors will assist psychotherapists and other mental health professionals in tailoring the interventions that they provide in the treatment and management …

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Eating Disorders, And Mental Stress Among United Arab Emirates University Students, Maram Braikan Alotaibi

Theses

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Eating Disorders (EDs), and mental stress are understudied in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), especially among university students. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of IBS, ED, mental stress, their associations, and the determinants of IBS among United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) students. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted via a 48-item online-survey shared with 14,268 undergraduate/graduate students, registered during academic year 2021-2022 in UAEU. Logistic regression models were performed to examine the predictive factors associated with IBS among UAEU students in total and by ED status. Significance was determined at p< 0.05. The prevalence of IBS was 39%, ED 55.9%, and high mental stress 53.2%, and they co-existed in 15.9% of UAEU students. Students who reported consuming trigger-food were 6 times more likely to have IBS than their counterpart [AOR: 5.859; 95% CI: 3.092–11.102, p< 0.001]. Those who reported intakes of relief-food were 4 times more likely to have IBS compared to their counterpart [AOR: 3.881; 95% CI: 1.669 – 9.022, p=0.002]. Students with family history of IBS (FHIBS) were 2.6 times more likely to have IBS than their counterpart [AOR: 2.572; 95% CI: 1.420–4.660, p= 0.002]. Students with high mental stress were 1.7 times more likely to have IBS than those with low-moderate stress, when adjusted for sex and age [AOR:1.730; 1.058–2.830, p= 0.029). No significant associations existed between IBS and ED, Socioeconomic Characteristics (SEC), lifestyle, dietary, and health-related factors. UAEU students reported high prevalence of IBS, ED and mental stress. A significant relationship was found between IBS and FH-IBS, trigger- and relieving- food. This study confirmed the prevalence of IBS, ED and mental stress. Large cohort studies on university students in the UAE are warranted to establish the relationships among IBS, ED, mental stress and their determinants.

Canagliflozin Ameliorates Autistic-Like Features And Mitigates Brain Oxidative Stress Levels In Valproic Acid-Induced Autism In Rats, Mohammad Moutaz Nakhal

Theses

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease with a substantially increasing incidence rate. It is mainly characterized by repetitive behavior, intellectual difficulties, social communication and interactions deficits. Many medications, dietary supplements, and behavioral treatments have been recommended for ASD management, however, there is no cure yet. Recent studies have examined the therapeutic potential of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in neurodevelopmental diseases, based on their proved anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The main objective of this study is to assess the ability of canagliflozin in improving the behavioural characteristics of autistic rats and investigate the efficacy of canagliflozin in …

Investigating Bim Applications In Reducing Co2 Emissions In The Built Environment – Uae Context, Rua Ahmed Maali

Theses

Large amounts of CO₂ are released into the atmosphere throughout the life cycle of a building starting from the production of materials and products, in the construction phase of the building itself, in the site setting, the renovations, the later rehabilitation, and up to the final demolition. Hence, this thesis aims to investigate the potential of using Building Information Modeling (BIM) in making informed decisions that can help in reducing CO₂ emissions in the life cycle of built environment projects. This study has used a mixed method approach that includes literature review, a case study and semistructured interviews. …

Impact Of Covid-19 On Security Vulnerabilities Of Learning Management Systems: A Study Towards Security And Sustainability Enhancement, Souheil Abdel-Latif Akacha

Theses

The rapid adoption of Learning Management Systems (LMSs) like Moodle, Chamilo, and Ilias became essential for online education due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, revolutionizing online learning while exposing security vulnerabilities. This thesis explores security concerns within these LMSs across different pandemic periods. By analyzing existing patches, security measures, and emerging cybersecurity technologies, recommendations are formulated to enhance LMS security against evolving cyber threats, providing actionable insights for educational institutions to ensure secure online education continuity. The numerical findings highlight the increasing need for proactive security measures in Moodle, the fluctuating nature of vulnerabilities in Chamilo, and the …

Radio Emission From Low Mass Active Galactic Nuclei, Ammara Aftab

Theses

Massive black holes of a few million to billion solar masses lurk at the centers of the most present-day massive galaxies but their origin is still unknown. The low mass galaxies (M* ~ 3x10⁹ Mʘ) hosting black holes with masses ranging from 10³ to 10⁵ Mʘ are ideal laboratories to test the models of black hole formation and they may help in understanding the co-evolution of central black holes with their host galaxies. In this thesis, we have developed a detailed theoretical model/framework to estimate the radio emission from low-mass active galactic nuclei (AGN). We also compute …

Radio Emission From Low-Mass Active Galactic Nuclei, Ammara Aftab

Theses

Massive black holes of a few million to billion solar masses lurk at the centers of the most present-day massive galaxies but their origin is still unknown. The low mass galaxies (M* ~ 3x10⁹ Mʘ ) hosting black holes with masses ranging from 10³ to 10⁵ Mʘ are ideal laboratories to test the models of black hole formation and they may help in understanding the co-evolution of central black holes with their host galaxies. In this thesis, we have developed a detailed theoretical model/framework to estimate the radio emission from low-mass active galactic nuclei (AGN). We also …

Selection Of Natural Surfactants For Possible Use In Improving Oil Recovery Of Carbonate Oil Reservoirs, Hiba Hachem Limam

Theses

Middle East petroleum industry is currently searching for the most suitable enhanced oil technique to improve the oil recovery from local oil reservoirs. The biggest challenge for the application of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in the Middle East is the harsh environment (high salinity and temperature). Surfactant (synthetic or natural) is one of the EOR major players considered for application in the Middle East. However, synthetic surfactants have several drawbacks, such as economically unattractive and environmental impacts. This study investigated the possible use of natural surfactant extracted from the leaves of three types of plants, namely Aloe Vera, Tetraena qatarensis, …

Psychosocial Predictors Of Cosmetic Surgery Acceptance Among Young Adult Women In The Uae. The Role Of Selfie Behavior, Narcissism And Religiosity: A Cross-Sectional Study, Amna Ahmad Alsadani

Theses

Cosmetic surgery is prevalent in the UAE and has been linked to negative psychological and physical consequences. The present study investigates psychosocial factors expected to predict an acceptance of cosmetic surgery among young adult women in the UAE. It was hypothesized that high selfie behavior, high narcissism, and low levels of religiosity would have a positive association with an interest in cosmetic surgery. The factors that motivate people to undergo cosmetic surgery were assessed using the 15-item Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale. Selfie behavior was examined using two questions derived from previous research. Narcissism was assessed using the 16-item Narcissistic …

Estimating Mars Surface Wind Stress And Dust Lifting Using Reanalyses Based On Emm And Other Spacecraft Observations, Haneen Abouhaligah

Theses

Studying Mars offers insights into terrestrial planet evolution and informs future human expeditions. This thesis examines dust dynamics in Mars’ lower atmosphere, focusing on understanding its weather and climate. We investigate the role of Near-Surface Wind Stress (NSWS) in dust lifting, using six reanalysis datasets, respectively: MACDA, EMARS, OpenMARS, ACS–TIRVIM (ExoMars observations of the MY34 Global Dust storm), EMM1 and EMM2. Following the parameterization approach by Newman et al. (2002a), areas of agreement and discrepancy among datasets were identified. Time series analysis revealed consistent results where datasets overlap temporally. Some differences were expected and shown due to the different Global …

جريمة إيداع أو تحويل الأموال بقصد التعاطي أو الاستعمال الشخصي للمواد المخدرة والمؤثرات العقلية في القانون الإماراتي (دراسة تحليلية تطبيقية), مريم محمود حبيب

Theses

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The crime of Depositing or Transferring Funds with the Intention of Using or Personally Using Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in UAE law (Applied Analytical Study)
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/="/">Criminal elements seek to take advantage of the benefits of using the Internet and communication programs, especially with its confidential nature and the difficulty of tracking its users, which allows its users to achieve direct criminal activities without being caught or being held legally accountable. The misuse of technology has posed a threat to our societies and has been accompanied by the emergence of many negatives and positivity; in addition to …

Risk Factors For Eating Disorders Among Uae University Students: The Role Of Family Dysfunction And Attachment Styles, Aya Jaber Dandachi

Theses

A topic that is highly researched nowadays in the UAE is eating disorders (EDs). They are characterized by a persistent disturbance of eating-related behaviors that can result in altered consumption of food. Literature has suggested that there are several factors that can make an individual vulnerable to EDs, including family dynamics and attachment styles. This thesis is an attempt to examine the impact of family dynamics and early attachment on mental health wellbeing. The main objective is to examine how family dysfunctional concepts (rigid, chaotic, enmeshed, and disengaged) and attachment styles (close, dependent, and anxious) can be potential risk factors …

Electromagnetic Mems Safety And Arming Devices, Fatima Rashed Alnuaimi

Theses

This thesis aims to investigate the design of safety and arming devices within artillery fuzes, which rely on the spin velocity and setback acceleration of the weapon. These systems consist of two critical components: the spin lock and the inertia lock. The spin velocity and setback acceleration of the weapon induce deformations in these components, serving as key criteria for determining whether the weapon is in an armed or safe state.

The primary objective of this thesis is to comprehensively analyze and assess the design of both the spin lock and inertia lock. The research will delve into multiple factors …

The Association Between Added Sugar And Abdominal Obesity In Adults, Noora Salem Alhammadi

Theses

Excessive body fat accumulation is a complicated medical condition known as obesity. Obesity increases the risk of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and several types of cancer. Numerous studies have shown that adults who regularly consume added sugar, mostly from sugar sweetened beverages, are more likely to be overweight or obese and/or abdominal obesity, however results remain controversial. The primary objective was to evaluate the relationship between Greek adults’ consumption of added sugar and abdominal obesity. The primary outcome was to investigate the intakes of added sugars in relation to weight status, fat mass, and specific …

Redshift Wrangler: Conducting A Citizen Science Study Of Extragalactic Spectroscopy, Sadie C. Coffin

Theses

I present the citizen science project Redshift Wrangler, designed to use the contributions of volunteers to analyze large samples of galaxy data and build a repository of spectroscopic measurements for various analyses. When we know how to read it, the spectrum of a galaxy can tell the story of its stellar population, distance, and interactions with any close companion galaxies. Through Redshift Wrangler, citizen science measurements become our main tool for extracting information from enormous quantities of collected spectra. Several main goals motivate this work: first, designing and launching Redshift Wrangler on citizen science platform Zooniverse to bring more people …

The Development Of A One-Shot Learning Machine Learning For Industrial Use With Predictive Maintenance, Conor O Brien

Theses

With the advent of Industry 4.0, Manufacturing operations have become more connected and automated. Modern industrial monitoring technology can monitor the performance of both the sensor utilised and the material under monitoring. This has led to a trend where legacy machines without this technology are being removed from production and/or not included in new reconfigurations of production lines, well before their productive lifespan had ended. A key driver for this is the difficulty in retrofitting Predictive Maintenance (PdM) systems to legacy machines, in part due to the machine-to-machine variation present in older machines. Accounting for this variation in PdM systems …

The Artistic Narratives Of Faith Ringgold: Depicting Race Relations And Social Justice In 1960s America, Nicole Hill

Theses

This thesis explores the works of artist and activist Faith Ringgold within the context of the Civil Rights movement in the United States. The Civil Rights era was a pivotal moment in American history, marked by racial segregation, violence, and discrimination against Black Americans. Against this backdrop, Ringgold's art emerged as a powerful tool for social critique and political activism. The thesis focuses on five of Ringgold's most significant works: Between Friends, The Civil Rights Triangle, The Flag is Bleeding, US Postage Stamp Commemorating the Advent of Black Power, and Die. These works span the period of the 1960s to …

Predicting Payment Defaults In Customs Authorities, Ahmed Fayed Elnahel

Theses

As the global economy continues to expand, international trade is growing at an unprecedented rate, resulting in a surge of cargo movements across borders. With so much activity taking place, it's imperative that customs systems operate intelligently to identify potential risks in every transaction and highlight any potential fraud or manipulation that may be occurring. Customs play a crucial role in supporting legitimate trade, protecting society, and promoting sustainable economic development. However, it is unfortunate that some companies take advantage of the facilities provided by customs departments to avoid paying their duties or engaging in smuggling from the free zone …

Molecular And Biochemical Analysis Of Cytochrome P450 2c19 And 2d6, Reema Saleous

Theses

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is a relatively new field of study. It links genetics to pharmacology since it deals with the influence of the genetic makeup of the individual on their ability to respond to specific medications. Some of the most important genes in this field, dubbed very important pharmacogenes (VIPs), belong to the cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily of drug metabolizing enzymes. The two members of this family that are the main focus of this thesis are CYP2C19 and CYP2D6. They play major roles in the metabolism of numerous medications, and it is therefore imperative that variations within those genes in various …

The Combination Approaches For One Class Classifier Ensembles For Software Defect Datasets, Maitha Mohammed Alkalbani

Theses

The classification of imbalanced datasets poses significant challenges, becoming a crucial topic in ML, particularly when standard algorithms struggle with accurate classification. In OCC, classifiers may encounter objects from ensembles of one class, leading to outlier scores generated at different scales. Additionally, there is a lack of a unified combination method, with many experiments resorting to using an average as the combination method. The thesis aims to investigate the effectiveness of normalization and unnormalized outlier scores on OCC ensembles. Furthermore, we conducted a comparative study of different types of combination methods. We used k-means clustering as OCC model, and the …

Design And Application Of Circular Edge-Fed Linearly Polarized Patch Antenna With Enhanced Bandwidth And Gain For Respiratory Monitoring Systems, Mo’Ath Akram Al Hayek

Theses

This Master’s thesis explores the design and application of a circular edge-fed patch antenna for respiratory monitoring systems. The antenna, fabricated from a thin copper adhesive sheet, demonstrates compatibility with textile materials of low thickness and a relative permittivity of 1.3. Using CST Studio Suite 3D EM simulation software, the antenna’s design was optimized through extensive trials, achieving improved bandwidth and gain. Our findings indicate that the antenna successfully differentiates between various breathing patterns, including slow, normal, and fast breathing rates. The study’s managerial and research implications extend to healthcare, wearable technology sectors, and the broader scientific community. The research …

Investigation And Analysis Of Circular Economy Indicators In The Manufacturing Industry, Dina Al Jamal

Theses

In the pursuit of sustainable development, the concept of the Circular Economy (CE) has emerged as a compelling and transformative alternative to the traditional linear economic model (i.e., take, make, use, dispose). The limitations of the linear economy in addressing contemporary global challenges have highlighted the urgency of adopting a more regenerative approach. Simply put, the circular economy aims to maximize the value extracted from available resources over their lifecycle, thereby ensuring the fulfillment of both current and future generations' needs. This thesis sheds light on a pivotal solution for effectively integrating circular economy principles into enterprises, thereby reinforcing sustainability. …

Enhancing Autism Education: Exploring Interactive Videos And Ai Integration For Effective Teaching, Fatima Ahmed Alraeesi

Theses

This research focuses on enhancing autism education by integrating interactive videos and AI solutions to improve teacher training. As the number of autistic students rises, it becomes crucial for special education teachers to employ effective teaching strategies tailored to individual needs. The most effective teaching methods for autistic students involve understanding the condition and incorporating customized instruction strategies, such as adapting assignments to suit the student's needs, assisting those with difficulty speaking, and employing visual aids for better organization. The proposed solution involves utilizing interactive video technology to train teachers, bridging the gap between research and practical implementation of educational …

Human Error Assessment In Software Engineering, Benjamin S. Meyers

Theses

Software engineers work under strict constraints, balancing a complex, multi-phase development process on top of user support and professional development. Despite their best efforts, software engineers experience human errors, which manifest as software defects. While some defects are simple bugs, others can be costly security vulnerabilities. Practices such as defect tracking and vulnerability disclosure help software engineers reflect on the outcomes of their human errors (i.e. software failures), and even the faults that led to those failures, but not the underlying human behaviors. While human error theory from psychology research has been studied and applied to medical, industrial, and aviation …

The Soft Power Impact Of International Event Hosting: The Case Of Uae And Expo 2020, Haya Mohamed Almazrouei

Theses

The study aimed at identifying and evaluating the soft power impact of international event hosting by considering the case of the UAE and Expo 2020. To attain this aim, a qualitative methodology has been incorporated, wherein data have been collected through semi-structured interviews with 20 managers involved in the organization of the Dubai Expo 2020, which were correspondingly analyzed through textual basis or content analysis. The study found that the soft power of the UAE can be measured using the six parameters of Soft Power 30 of McClory, which are Engagement, Government, Culture, Education, Enterprise and Digital. The challenges associated …

Combination Therapy Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer With Paclitaxel And Ambrisentan, A Selective Antagonist Of The Endothelin Type A Receptor, Inhibits Tumor Growth And Metastasis, Farah Nasser Almahrook

Theses

Cancer treatment is a big challenge especially when associated with metastasis. Moreover, the importance of using combination therapy is increasing, especially for highly invasive, drug-resistant cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Ambrisentan, a selective antagonist of the endothelin type A receptor (ETAR) was previously shown to reduce metastasis of TNBC in a preclinical tumor model when used prophylactically. In the current study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Ambrisentan, given as monotherapy or in combination with Paclitaxel, on TNBC. The data show that oral dosing with Ambrisentan led to a significant retardation in tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover, combining …

A Study On The Impact Of Nonlinear Effects On Hyperspectral Sub-Pixel Target Detection, Colin J. Maloney

Theses

In the realm of hyperspectral (HS) sub-pixel target detection, the Linear Mixing Model (LMM) proposes that the macroscopic interaction between incident light and materials in a scene may be modeled as linear. For individual pixels in hyperspectral data which contain multiple materials, this means that they may be accurately represented by a linear combination of the spectra of those pure materials, which are often called endmembers. However, when nonlinear mixing, such as shadowing and adjacent reflections, are present, the foundational assumptions of the LMM are violated and its accuracy in predicting target detection performance is reduced. This thesis aims to …

Equilibrium And Active Self-Assembly And Collective Properties Of Network-Based Biomaterials, Lauren Melcher

Theses

Biological systems have the unique ability to self-organize, respond to environmental stimuli, and generate autonomous motion and work. The fields of biomaterials and synthetic biology seek to recapitulate these remarkable properties of biological systems in in-vitro reconstitutions of biological systems, and in abiotic or biotic-abiotic hybrid materials to better understand the underlying rules of life and to predict the design principles of biomimetic smart materials. Motivated by this, we create bottom-up mathematical models, rooted in experiments, of network-based synthetic and biological materials. These encompass two-dimensional colloidal networks connected by rhythmic crosslinkers, and three-dimensional biopolymer networks assembled via depletion interactions, physical …

Gender And Sociodemographic Discrepancies In Adhd Symptom Endorsement, Tabish Gul

Theses

Historically, the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been found to be higher in men than women. However, recent work suggests that part of this discrepancy might be because ADHD may manifest in women in less disruptive ways and therefore be underdiagnosed. This issue is compounded by the fact that some ADHD traits may seem more “normative” at certain ages. To further understand potential biases in parent perception of ADHD symptoms, this study examines parent endorsement of the 18 DSM-5 criteria for ADHD cross-sectionally in a non-clinical sample of children from 3.3 to 6 years of age. It …